Are my disc brakes dragging?

1994 · Jul 24, 2017

I one day noticed how HOT the lug nuts and rims on my 1999 "classic' C1500 Silverado were getting after driving normally on the highway for a very short amount of time (roughly an hour)

I can barely even hold my hand on a lug nut or the surrounding rim after driving the truck for 15-20 minutes doing minor stops. This is happening to both my front rims.

Is this NORMAL? Or is there an issue that may be causing this? Should I replace something or have my truck looked at?
Thanks.

GarrettGmc · Jul 24, 2017

Any smell from the brakes? Kinda sounds like the calipers may be partially stuck but I've never heard both at same time

1994 · Jul 24, 2017

No smell at all. Although I took the right side off because initially it felt much warmer than the left, and I got into the bearings and the grease was all burnt up and the outer bearing was basically toast as it looked like it got quite hot. I got a brand new rotor and bearings, REMAN calipers and a new brake hose for the right side, because it seemed like it was getting hotter than the left side was. I also noticed the caliper did not want to release the piston after I pressed the brakes (hence why I got a remanufactured one to replace it) After replacing all of that on that side and bleeding the brakes, I took it for a 15 minute drive (testing brakes, did maybe 4 quick stops from 30 km/h to 0) and both sides were still as hot as before.

Not sure what else it could be?

GarrettGmc · Jul 24, 2017

Damn no clue, I didn't even think of the bearings.

98 Nitro · Jul 24, 2017

Alloy wheels tend to run hot.

1994 · Jul 25, 2017

Just going to run with it I guess. I took the truck for a small spin around the block and tried to just coast as much as possible and not brake. Got home and my lugs/rims seemed cool enough to the touch. Will be doing a long 3 hour drive this Thursday night and shall see if anything happens.

kennythewelder · Jul 25, 2017

I did a brake job on my wife's 04 Toyota 4 runner. I ran into the same thing. Alloy rims by the way. I ran the water from the hose on them and they boiled off the water on the lug nuts. I thought, no thats way to hot. Well after doing research, no it is not. The job of the brakes is to displace heat. As long as they are not smoking, smell burnt, or something like that, then you are OK. Most of the time, if the brakes are dragging, the truck will pull to one side when you apply the brakes. Also, you can jack up the truck, and spin the wheels by hand. As long as you can turn the wheels by hand you should be good.

Are my disc brakes dragging?

1994

I'm Awesome

GarrettGmc

I'm Awesome

1994

I'm Awesome

GarrettGmc

I'm Awesome

98 Nitro

I'm Awesome

1994

I'm Awesome

kennythewelder

Officially Retired, B31-3 (6-G) certified welder.

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